May 23, 2014
The Associated Press

About 1.4 million office chairs are being recalled this week by Office Depot because of a seat plate defect that has been linked to various injuries, including on instance of a fractured back and hip. Other consumer products recalled this week include smoke alarms, play sets, and portable bed handles.

Here’s a more detailed look:

OFFICE CHAIRS

DETAILS: Office Depot Gibson Leather Task Chairs. The affected chairs have the SKU number 105479 and the registration numbers PA 27248 (CN), PA 25498 (CN), PA 25276 (HK) or CA 35181 (RC) that can be found next to the words “Made in China” which is printed on a label located on the underside of the seats. They were sold Office Depot retail stores and online from 2003 through 2012.

WHY: The mounting plate weld can break and separate the seat from the base of the chair, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

INCIDENTS: 153 reports of the seat plate weld cracking or breaking, including 25 reports of contusions, abrasions and reports of injuries to the head, neck and a fractured back and hip which required medical attention.

HOW MANY: About 1.4 million.

FOR MORE: Call Office Depot at 866-403-3763 or visit www.officedepot.com and select Recall Notices under “Customer Service” at the bottom of the page for more information.

PORTABLE BED HANDLES

DETAILS: Adult portable bed handles sold by Bed Handles Inc., which don’t have safety retention straps to secure the bed handle to the bed frame to keep the bed handle from shifting out of place and creating a dangerous gap. Recalled models include the Original Bedside Assistant (BA10W), the Travel Handles (BA11W) which is sold as a set of two bed handles, and the Adjustable Bedside Assistant (AJ1). They were sold by home health care stores, drug stores and medical equipment stores nationwide and in home and health care catalogues from January 1994 through December 2007.

WHY: When attached to an adult’s bed without the use of safety retention straps, the handle can shift out of place, creating a dangerous gap between the bed handle and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious risk of entrapment, strangulation and death.

INCIDENTS: Three women died after becoming entrapped between the mattress and the bed handles. They include an elderly woman, age unknown, who died in an Edina, Minnesota assisted living facility; a 41-year-old disabled woman who died in a Renton, Washington adult family home; and an 81-year-old woman who died in a Vancouver, Washington managed care facility.

HOW MANY: About 113,000.

FOR MORE: Call Bed Handles at 800-725-6903 or visit http://bedhandles.com/recall.html.

SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

DETAILS: All Nest Protect Smoke + CO alarms. The word “nest” is on a large button on the face of the alarm. Consumers can enable the alarms to be controlled by a computer or a smartphone over a wireless network. The alarms have a Nest Wave feature, which allows users to temporarily silence some alerts or cancel a manual test by vigorously waving an arm near the unit that triggered the alarm. Nest Protect Smoke + CO alarms came from the factory with the Nest Wave feature enabled and with the slider button in the “On” position in Nest Protect Settings. They were sold from November 15, 2013 to April 3, 2014.

WHY: Activity near the product during a fire can prevent the alarm from immediately sounding when the Nest Wave feature is enabled.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 440,000

FOR MORE: Call Nest Labs at 800-249-4280 or visit www.nest.com and click on Nest Protect Safety Notice for more information.

TODDLER PLAYSET

DETAILS: Bristle Builders for Toddlers sets sold with 52 plastic pieces consisting of building pieces and three animal figures. Pieces are covered with plastic bristle pegs which allow all the pieces to connect. Production number EC559597 is printed on the smooth side of the green baseplate. They were sold at Lakeshore retail stores, Lakeshore Learning Materials’ Early Childhood catalogue and online at www.lakeshorelearning.com from December 2013 to April 2014.

WHY: The base of the three animal figures can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 2,000.

FOR MORE: Call Lakeshore Learning Materials at 800-428-4414 or visit www.lakeshorelearning.com and click on “Product Safety” for more information.

FLUORESCENT LIGHTS

DETAILS: Commercial Electric brand basic hanging shop lights that use two, 48-inch, two-pin, T8, fluorescent lamps. Model number CESL401-06 and SKU number 201-462 are printed on a white label on the top of the fixture. They were sold at The Home Depot from August 2013 through March 2014.

WHY: The lamp sockets can allow loose connections, posing a risk of an electrical arc and fire.

INCIDENTS: 888 reports of incidents, including 382 of units smoking, 328 of units catching on fire, 173 of units sparking and five of units with electrical arcing. No injuries have been reported.